OT: building project (with pictures)

I really enjoy seeing the pictures of buildings and construction projects that others have posted. I especially enjoy seeing how people think about solving and then go about solving these things. I thought I would share a now 2-1/2 year long endeavor that began when I was 22. I've spent many nights and weekends over the past two years on the farm, and when I haven't been running fence or bucking bales, I've been working on this project.

This project began as a college thesis - and upon graduation, I just kept going. The building was sitting unused for over a decade at a burned down old farmstead 12 miles from my parents farm, when I happened upon it. After working with the landowner, we figured out that I could have the building, (but not the land) so ultimately my solution was to move the building. I spent almost two semesters, studying, cataloging, disassembling, and moving the building. I broke ground for the rebuilt foundation a month after graduation in June 2010. All of the work up to this point has been done by my Dad and myself in our spare time along with the gracious help of many of my former football buddies and helpful neighbors. I've finally saved up enough from the past two years of work to hire out the standing seam metal roof and the sandstone firebox and brick chimney. I think it will be money well spent. The mason is to start within a week or two and the roof should be on hopefully sometime in late November early December. The last two pictures were taken yesterday afternoon after finishing the second coat of paint on the building.

I have also realized that this forum and the people on it have also been a great help and inspiration for me as I am able to interact with a great many more rural and farming folks then would ever be possible without this site. The pictures span the last year and a half (it's all I have on my work computer). Sorry for the long post, just wanted to share and say thank you and God Bless to everyone. Hope everyone's winter preparation is well underway.

-Jameson

I, like everyone else here loves to see preservation. You certainly went the extra mile on this project, especially with the foundation. That wouldn't be Hokie Stone would it? Where is this located?

Beautiful job! Makes me wish I was younger, because I used to do many like that. Even recently, I've been offered some beautiful old ballon and post-and-beam houses and barns - free for the taking - but couldn't do it.

What I don' t envy, is dealing with current Uniform Building Code regs and trying to restore old buildings and make them conform. Sometimes the legal aspect is more difficult then the hands-on part of the job.

Here in NY, once the "restore" job supasses 10% of the current value of the old building, it MUST meet modern code and cannot be "grandfathered" in. That makes restoring old buildings near impossible, unless you are very clever with paperwork.

Friend of mine just got a 1800s dairy barn - all post and beam. Got the barn for free, but paid near $40,000 to have it put up at his homestead to use as a "rustic" art studio. He got around code because no one will live in it.

Lots of good hard work.. What is the intended use of the finished building.. Is it 2 story or maybe 1& 1/2 ? Did you transport the side walls intact?

very nice.thanks for sharing.

Nice! I like the stonework.

Is this going to be a residence?

Very cool! I love seeing old buildings salvaged and brought back to life like that.

Post more pictures of the chimney/firebox when done.

Looks good!

Yep, typical NY, waste more time trying to come up with ways to get around all the codes regs laws ect. The adminstration must cost must be big bucks. No wonder the state is broke, wasting time with all this nonsense they keep coming up with. I like the cigrette hike they had year Patterson siad its gonna bring such and such money in for us. Well they had a story in the paper this summer how it brought in less than half what he predicted. People are going to other states for smokes,,, J

Southwestern Pa. at my parents farm - the foundation is just the original sandstone foundation that we rebuilt on new footings.

We transported the walls intact, as well as the roof (from which the gable ends were re-used. I'll have to post some pictures of how my dad and I took the roof off - intact).

The building is a full lower storey with a loft above for my "sleeping quarters/lounge space"). The building is laid out to serve as a guest house for the main farm house when I'm not in it. I plan on using it as my architecture studio as well(the farm/country provides great inspiration).

I'll certainly post some more pictures when the fireplace and roof are finished.

-Jameson

Yeah, but it's good for the Mohawk Indians around here and their sales - that is - unless the State starts breaking the old treaties again.

Very nice!

My wife'd call you an idiot. But she don't have the people skills and imagination that I do. Very nice.


Dave

Nice work. but I have 2 quick questions. 1. what was it?. 2. what will it be used for????

Looks like you've been really busy for the last year and a half.

Very good work; really like the way you did the foundation with the original stones.

You've got a lot of hard work and "sweat equity" in your building project.

Thanks for sharing both your story and photos with us.

You guys sure did put in the work. Looks great. Thanks for the pictures. I'm in the same boat as Jde. wish I was younger so when the time comes to put up our building. I couls be of use. Old bldgs and equiptment need to be rescued. Lots of history went into em, Again Thanks , and a great looking building. Reguards LOU.

I concure with my fellow NY neighbors on their distaste for code restrictions, How ever I noticed that your Ago AC had a couple of war wounds. Lifting with the bucket and or a gib pole on the bucket is dangerous without a 4 post FOPS & ROPS structure around you. I have seen many a tractor with the muffler and flimsey fiberglass canopy broken from lifting round bales and other things too high because of poor judgment and inadiquit safty conserns. You did do a very nice job on the building. Work safer with the tractor and go on to do many more projects. Acg.

Very nice. I particularly like the stonework. Very professional.

Nice job -- used building material will require a termite inspection for a fact. Friends deer camp built from used wood and termites have destroyed the building and out house.

This is how we moved the local post office. It had been abandoned for 25 years so we got it donated to the town Historical Society. We had to move it about 1/4 mile down the road so lifted it, put it on a sled of logs and away down the road we went with my Oliver 2655! Just did it early on a Sunday morning before church let out.
Cal